Tag: do life together

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A treasure is something that is highly valued. Earthly treasures are quantified in possessions such as gold, houses and these expire with time. Heavenly treasures on the other hand are not limited by TIME. However, just like any other treasure, you have to search for heavenly treasures. Yeah, if you have watched any pirate movie, the general theme is centered on crossing vast oceans and going around the world in search of treasure. You have to get knowledge, sacrifice and work hard to get to what you desire.

One misconception we must break is that heavenly treasures will only be obtained when we get to heaven. Jesus sacrifice on the cross gave us access to the heavenly realm and we can pull what we access there and pull it to the earthly realm. We can make them to be a part of who we are. They can be principles or values that revolutionize how we live in the world of men. Whenever we receive such treasures, we are meant to grow them. Yes, cultivate the godly treasures within you by experience and the Word of God then bring them to the surface by prayer and obedience.

Cultivate the godly treasures within you by experience and the Word of God then bring them to the surface by prayer and obedience

Proverbs 2:3-5 [NIV]

3 indeed, if you call out for insight

and cry aloud for understanding,

4 and if you look for it as for silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

Most of what God has endowed us with has to be searched for. The problem comes about when you don’t know what is yours. If you don’t know something exists, you will never be bothered by it. If you don’t know that something belongs to you, you will never search for it. Your search can only start when you realize that you have lost something or when you realize that something is yours and belongs in your hands. You will definitely labor to make sure it gets back to you.

Believers living a Christian life have the hope of the return, the resurrection out from among the dead, and eternal rewards to motivate them and provide focus for their endeavors. Hebrews 11:6 [NIV] says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Our love for God and desire to please our Lord encourages us to labor for him out of love and to store our treasure in heaven, rather than to build temporal fortunes. I came across Paul Ellis teaching while researching for this blog and what he had to say about heavenly treasures blew me away.

Genesis 15:1 [NIV]

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,

your very great reward.”

Whatever the treasures of heaven may be, they are nothing in comparison with Jesus, who is the Reward for those who seek him. There is a difference between inheritance and heavenly treasures. Our inheritance comes to us through grace alone; when we accept the Lord Jesus as our savior and are adopted as sons into God’s family, while heavenly treasures can be worked for and accumulated. Now there is a totally different way that we can view what ‘heavenly treasures’ are. What are eternal rewards? What is our heavenly treasure? The answer may surprise you, but it is people.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. (Ps 127:3)

This Psalm is not just talking about biological children. God has bigger plans for you and they involve spiritual children. Lots of them. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. Millions. Don’t limit God. Just as Abraham was called to be the father of many nations, so are you. Jesus said those who followed him would be fishers of men. What is a fisherman’s reward? It’s fish, or people in this case. What is the reward of the one who sows and waters the good seed? It’s a harvest of people. What is treasure that never wears out and cannot be stolen? It’s people. In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus introduces God as our heavenly Father. In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus says he is a Father who rewards us. And what is a father’s reward? It is children.

When Jesus exhorts us to store up treasures in heaven, he is not saying, “Store up me.” How would we do that? He’s saying, “Be fruitful and multiply so that when this moth-eaten, money-grubbing world passes away, you will have treasures in heaven—spiritual children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.” God isn’t your average Father with average dreams. His desire is to grow the world’s largest family and He treats people like treasure.

Deuteronomy 7:6 [NIV] “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”

Don’t take people for granted. One of the things that distinguishes a son from a servant in the house is the son having the same desires of the father. If God values people, as a son of God, you also have to value people. You have to expose them to the gospel and pull them into this large beautiful family.

You are your father’s treasure.

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All scripture references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stated. Drop your comments and thoughts on the above post in the box below. Like and share the post if you have been blessed. See you on the next one.